Restless Waves

Chapter 29

Again, apologies for the late chapter! I was dealing with a copyright situation that really got me shook for a while (someone stole a few of my books and SOLD them on Amazon. Don't worry, it has all been dealt with now)! I just needed to take a break and figure it out properly. Also, I've been moving house and I now live in a tent in my mum's garden, so that has been interesting :')

Anyways... I KNOW you'll enjoy this chapter ;)

- Sian

The boys moved their heads closer until Rowan felt Kaerius's nose against his own. Kaerius's breath against Rowan's lips was hotter than the sun shining on his bare torso. Kaerius smelled how the ocean tasted; salty. Rowan wasn't sure how to describe it, but everything about the Thalassic Mortal reminded him of the beach. Rowan supposed that was natural, considering how Kaerius lived in the ocean.

That thought linked to how Rowan was moments away from kissing a supernatural being who lived in the sea, permanently, and how their souls were tied together by an invisible rope that was shrinking with every new day. The bond terrified the human yet filled him with emotions that should have taken him months to build, not a few weeks. He didn't know Kaerius that well, but Rowan would do anything for him. Right now, Kaerius's soul wanted a kiss, and Rowan would do it. He just needed a nudge, then his self-control would crumble like a sandcastle caught in the rain.

Kaerius was trying to concentrate on himself, rather than how Rowan's nose was touching his own. Kaerius tried to pull away, but it was like his back had nowhere to move, and he could only push forwards, which would result in pressing the rest of his face against Rowan's. Kaerius tried to convince himself that Rowan was something deadly and he had to escape. He couldn't trick his soul.

"Kaerius, we can't... we can't do this," Rowan whispered. "We shouldn't."

"No. But..." Kaerius's hands twitched to touch him.

"But you want to."

The longer they stayed so close, the stronger their affection became. Rowan's mouth watered for Kaerius's taste. His skin longed for Kaerius's skin. For a human, Rowan had resisted the bond surprisingly well. Addictions ate humans generously. The bond wasn't like being addicted to coffee or to alcohol or sweet snacks. It was woven into every fibre. It was a need, a necessity, a must. Rowan had to be close, like Kaerius's heart was his and vice versa. Rowan had to satisfy what Kaerius wanted or else his heart might just break. It was as if his brain fired up for Kaerius, his heart pumped blood through his veins for Kaerius, his lungs breathed for Kaerius, and his lips were shaped for Kaerius.

Rowan's hand slowly moved until his fingers touched the Thalassic Mortal's shoulder.

Kaerius didn't flinch from his touch, but it felt so intense that he froze. He could only concentrate on the contact as Rowan's hand moulded into the curve of his shoulder. The human's skin was hot and smooth and gentle. Kaerius closed his eyes. If he couldn't see Rowan, and if he stalled for long enough, he hoped that one of them would pull away-

Kaerius's breath caught in his throat when he felt something lightly brush against his lips. Was it Rowan's lips? Kaerius didn't dare to open his eyes. A part of him didn't want to ruin the moment, and a part of him screamed that the moment should never have started.

Rowan's lips were on fire. They touched lightly against Kaerius's mouth. He wasn't sure who was the one to lean close enough for them to touch, but now that they had touched, he was fused into place.

A warm breeze filtered through them, and a sudden loud squawk of a seagull forced Rowan's head back. He stared at Kaerius, suddenly wide-eyed like he had woken up from a deep sleep. The world around him was bright, and a loud, high-pitched noise rang in his ears. He watched Kaerius open his eyes, and the purple colour entranced him once again.